Malaysiakini screws up

Malaysiakini screwed up with this report below when actually Bala's lawyers want MACC instead to pay for their air fare (Bala and his three lawyers) plus hotel rooms and other costs:

MACC gets all-expense paid London date with Bala

Lawyers representing private investigator P Balasubramaniam have made travel arrangements for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to interview their client in London this July.

In an email sent to a MACC officer today, lawyer Americk Singh Sidhu asked an investigating officer in the case to forward the offer to his superior, investigating director Mustafar Ali.

"We have made arrangements for them to be present in London from July 3 to 12 for the purpose of interviewing and recording Balasubramaniam's statement. All flights and accommodation (for the MACC) have been arranged," Americk said in the email.

A copy of the correspondence was made available to Malaysiakini.

Balasubramaniam is also represented by Manjeet Singh Dhillon.

Americk said that, instead of conducting the interview at the Malaysian High Commission in London - as suggested by Mustafar in an interview with the New Straits Times yesterday - a small meeting room would be booked in London.

"My client does not agree to having the interview conducted at the Malaysian High Commission in London, and we also fail to appreciate the necessity of having it there."

Americk said the lawyers are waiting for MACC's response.

He explained that the elaborate arrangement is to ensure that MACC keeps its word and does not give excuses for failing to interview the private investigator.

MACC, when contacted, did not wish to comment.

Balasubramaniam, was hired by political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda in the Altantuya Shaariibuu matter. She was murdered in 2006.

The private investigator had made a sensational statutory declaration on July 3, 2008 over the matter, only to retract it a day later.

Yesterday, Manjeet told Malaysiakini that Balasubramaniam is willing to be interviewed and his statement recorded by the commission even before the July date, but that the MACC had not responded.

Manjeet dismissed Mustafar's statement that the commission wants to meet the private investigator earlier than July.

The commission had issued a statement on May 22, saying it is willing to interview Balasubramaniam and record his statement in July.